The Future is Bright: Gunnar Henderson Moving Up the Ranks

When Gunnar Henderson stepped up to the plate for Double-A Bowie in game two of the Eastern League Championship on September 22, he had one goal – contribute the team. With one swing of his bat, he did just that, hitting his 17th home run of the year and his first with the Baysox.

“Just being able to have that, I mean being able to contribute in that way was really great,” said Henderson. “Just watching every one of those guys compete, you go up there and you just want to help. I ultimately felt like I helped the team, and I’m looking forward to continuing to do that. And I can’t thank God enough. I mean just allowing me to have that was just a true honor.”

In his first full season of professional baseball, Henderson -- the Orioles' fourth ranked prospect according to MLB.com -- moved through three minor league levels, showing why he is one of Baltimore’s most anticipated prospects. Despite his quick rise, the process was not always easy. In fact, this past season was filled some of the toughest moments of his young career, but with that came an invaluable experience.

“I’m probably one of the hardest players on myself, and over the course of the season I learned failure is going to happen,” said Henderson. “Especially when I went to Aberdeen. It happened immediately, and it was one of the best things for me this season. Just to learn that and to learn how to go through that. And now I feel like I made myself a better player through that and ultimately finished the year off strong.”

Henderson had not recorded a hit in two-straight games with Low-A Delmarva prior to being promoted to High-A Aberdeen. After seven games with the Ironbirds, his hitless streak continued. It was not until June 30, one day after his 20th birthday, that Henderson finally ended the streak with an RBI single in the seventh inning of game two of a double header.

Two months later, Henderson ended his time at Aberdeen with an eight-game hitting streak that he extended into his first game with Double-A Bowie, where he finished the season.

“It was a true blessing,” said Henderson. “To get through three levels this year, my first true year of professional ball and just being able to have that experience, especially in playoff baseball.”

The 2020 season, what would have been Henderson’s first full season, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But once again, he turned what could have been a negative into a positive, using it as motivation to get better.

After months of taking batting practice off a family friend and taking ground balls from his dad at his home in Alabama, Henderson got the call he would be invited to the Orioles Alternate Training Site at Prince George Stadium in Bowie. At just 19 years old, he was one of the youngest players there.

At first, the age difference was clear as Henderson competed against some of the Orioles top pitching prospects. Eventually, with the help of hitting coach Ryan Fuller, Henderson found his swing. But even when he was struggling, he made the most of this opportunity, talking with pitchers to learn how they attacked him, and watching how other prospects and veterans went about their business, learning from their experiences.

“We all share stuff with each other about our past experiences -- talking to guys at the alternate site last year, being able to chat with the guys who have been up and down in the major leagues, being able to see what they’re experiences are like and how pitchers pitch in a sense.”

The bonds Henderson developed at the Alternate Training Site have been pivotal to his success. But so have the relationships he has formed with his teammates throughout the minor leagues, especially fellow infielder Jordan Westburg, the Orioles' 30th pick of the 2020 Draft out of Mississippi State.

The two moved up the ranks together, being promoted from Low-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen, and from High-A Aberdeen to Double-A Bowie less than a month apart. While some players may see moving up with their competition a bad thing, Henderson and Westburg have embraced it.

“Hearing from other players and other past experiences they’ve had, you can’t really have that comradery because they are butting heads and trying to beat each other out for the position,” explained Henderson. “But that’s definitely the opposite case between Jordan and I because we just want to see each other get better and build off each other’s experiences. I feel like that’s shown pretty well this year and I’m looking forward to it continuing.”

The comradery between the players in the Orioles system is one of the things that stands out the most to Henderson. They all have the same goal – help the team win. They know if they play for themselves, they won’t be playing their best baseball.

“You’re going out there and doing everything you can to help the team, that’s ultimately going to give you the best chance to win,” said Henderson. “And I feel throughout all the levels, that’s what we all harped on and that’s what ultimately happened. We all won a good amount of games this year and it really looks bright.”

Henderson knows the future of Orioles baseball is bright. He knows the new hitting philosophies work. He knows the focus on a growth mindset and staying positive works. He knows how talented his teammates are.

Even in a season where he had to face and learn how to overcome failure, Henderson ended the year hitting a home run in a championship game. And plans to have that same opportunity soon at Oriole Park.

“The people that are coming up through the system,” said Henderson. “I mean I’ve seen every one of them play. We all have good comradery and great teammates. The future is really bright, and fans should be really excited.”